On the turn for home, it looked for a brief moment as if the filly would be caught, but regular rider Calvin Borel wasn't bashful about using the whip, first left-handed, then right-handed, to keep her in the lead.

On the turn for home, it looked for a brief moment as if the filly would be caught, but regular rider Calvin Borel wasn't bashful about using the whip, first left-handed, then right-handed, to keep her in the lead.

Robby Albarado (left), who rode the 4-year-old runner-up, knew his horse wasn't going to win. "I never thought I had her,'' he said. "The only thing I was hoping for was that she'd tire. Champions show different dimensions. She's in a league of her own. Older horses, her own age, it doesn't matter. No matter what they throw at her, she'll beat them.''

Robby Albarado (left), who rode the 4-year-old runner-up, knew his horse wasn't going to win. "I never thought I had her,'' he said. "The only thing I was hoping for was that she'd tire. Champions show different dimensions. She's in a league of her own. Older horses, her own age, it doesn't matter. No matter what they throw at her, she'll beat them.''

She earned $450,000 for Jackson's Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick, her owners, increasing her career total to more than $2.9 million. Jackson (right) and longtime friend McCormick bought the horse after she won the Oaks and decided to enter her in the Preakness two weeks later.

She earned $450,000 for Jackson's Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick, her owners, increasing her career total to more than $2.9 million. Jackson (right) and longtime friend McCormick bought the horse after she won the Oaks and decided to enter her in the Preakness two weeks later.

"She was ready,'' said co-owner Jess Jackson, who called the ride "perfect.'' "Those were a lot of big animals she was running against, but she showed her spirit. She showed her class. She didn't give up. That's my Rachel.''

"She was ready,'' said co-owner Jess Jackson, who called the ride "perfect.'' "Those were a lot of big animals she was running against, but she showed her spirit. She showed her class. She didn't give up. That's my Rachel.''

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